Fiji calls on Australia, NZ to relax garment trade rules

The Fiji garment industry is again calling on Australia and New Zealand to relax the rules of origin under the trade agreement.

According to Wednesday's report from The Fijilive, a Suva-based news service, the president of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council, Ramesh Solanki, said the industry is hopeful that discussions by the Fiji Prime Minister and two senior ministers in Australia, will result in changes.

He said the current agreement is too restrictive because it requires 50 percent of the material of clothes to be sourced in Fiji.

Solanki said it would provide a real boost to the industry if the rules of origin were relaxed.

"We're requesting 25 percent local content but it will be better if, like under WTO, emphasizing substantial transformation, " said Solanki.

Solanki said if this occurs, another 6,000 jobs could be created in Fiji within a year.

Source: Xinhua